Thanksgiving With Manny Malhotra

anyone can be a good cook

My interest in cooking started when I was a kid, hanging around the kitchen, helping my mom or watching how my dad cooked certain Indian foods. I didn’t really start cooking on my own until I was 22 or 23 years old and playing for the Dallas Stars. On a typical practice day, I was done around 2 p.m. My routine was to go to a restaurant for lunch, go home, watch TV, and then go to a restaurant again for dinner. Regardless of whether I was at home or on the road, I was eating out all the time. I figured I could use my time more wisely. I lived down the street from a really nice grocery store so I remember buying a book called 10, 20 and 30 Minute Meals. I just wanted quick meals so once I got over the fear of burning something or making it taste awful, I just started experimenting. The fact that I ate in so many restaurants gave me a lot of ideas, so I would try to copy certain things. Even now, if I enjoy a meal somewhere I try to duplicate it in my own kitchen. I also watch Food Network a lot to get ideas. I would say my favorite celebrity chefs are Emeril and Rachael Ray because they make it look easy — like anyone can make those meals.

If you want to try my version of roasted garlic mashed potatoes for your holiday dinner, here’s how I do it:

Roast a bulb of garlic for 45 minutes to an hour; Add sour cream, butter, salt, and pepper to taste; Add caramelized onions if you like.

If you want to try the sweet potatoes, boil the sweet potatoes, mash with butter and add brown sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg to taste.

Happy Thanksgiving.

Manny Malhotra is an NHL star who plays center position for the Columbus Blue Jackets.